Sirens

(c) Liz Cockrum

Via the marvellous Shakas and Singlefins I came across Liz Cockrum who has combined her passion for photography and surfing to capture the images of different generations of female surfers. Through a series of landscape, portrait and detail images Liz records the past, present and future of women as individuals in surfing.

Here's her own take on the Sirens collection.

The sport of surfing extends beyond wave riding and casual afternoons at the beach. Surfing is a lifestyle and a culture, rich with traditions that span continents and generations. Women have played a role in the progression of surfing since its birth in Hawaii centuries ago, but recent decades have seen a great shift in their place within the sport. As surfing rose to popularity on the mainland United States in the 1950’s, women were largely viewed as beach bunnies, rather than athletes. Through their athleticism, creativity and positive contributions to surf culture, female surfers have changed that perception and are now accepted as respected and influential members of the surf community.

The surfers I have photographed are full of passion and determination, but participate in the surf world without the dominating ego that has been prevalent in this culture for decades. Some of these women are professional surfers known around the globe, while others have only recently “caught the bug” and are still very much beginners. Regardless of their skill level, each of these women demonstrates a mindset focused on ideals that are uncommon in an all-male line-up.

My intention with this body of work is to celebrate the courageous and innovative females who are pioneering this shift towards a more positive, open surf culture. These images speak to broader ideas related to women in modern society, the power of determination and sub-cultures within a larger community. Through portraits, landscapes and details I want to explore a little-seen side of surfing, and focus the viewer’s attention on the individuals who are an integral part of a unique culture.

Revealing the wave inside time

This clip is taken from the current BBC South Pacific series. The first time I saw this footage at home on my HDTV I got goosebumps... just the most beautiful images of waves that I have ever seen. This online clip gives you an idea but watch it in high definition to really go 'wow'!

Just Add Water

Loved this surf documentary with Clay Marzo. Awesome soundtrack, inspirational surfing and beautifully shot. It took me a while to get round to watching it but so glad I did. If you get a chance you should check it out.

Eden Project launches Eco Surf Board

The Eden Project launched an environmentally friendly surfboard which could "revolutionise" the industry, creators said.

The new board was produced by the Eden Project and started life as a giant balsa tree which fell to the ground in the Rainforest Biome at its site near St Austell, Cornwall, in south west England.

Over five years, staff at Eden worked with three other companies, Homeblown, Sustainable Composites and Laminations, to produce the board which is made from 50 per cent renewable materials.

The move is a significant step forward from the petroleum chemicals used in traditional surfboard production.

Sam Robinson Photography

(C) Sam Robinson

Earlier this week I got mailed a heap of photos by Sam Robinson and this one I fell in love with and thought i'd share.

Mermaid's Tears

Globally, 100 million tonnes of plastic are generated each year and at least 10 per cent of that is finding its way into the sea. The United Nations Environmental Program now estimates that there are 46,000 floating pieces of plastic for every square mile of ocean. Some of that rubbish circulating the globe is 30 metres deep.

Each year, 113 billion kilograms of small plastic pellets nicknamed Mermaid's tears -the feedstock for all disposable plastics - are shipped worldwide and a scary proportion are going astray during transfer. These spilled pellets are ending up in gutters and drains and eventually getting carried into the ocean. Research carried out by the Marine Conservation Society in 2007 revealed these plastic pellets are the second most common litter item found on UK beaches.

By their very nature Mermaids Tears do not biodegrade, absorb harmful polychlorinated biphenyls in concentrations up to a million times greater than the surrounding seawater and they can also be a deadly threat to sea life, which mistake them for food.

Last summer Surfers Against Sewage released a film that exposes poor industry practice from 'plastic injection moulding factories', which is leading to the pollution epidemic of the UK's waterways and coastline. The evidence of the waste ending up on Cornish beaches was clear to see when then cameras filmed the shoreline down at Porthtowan.

Borderlands

Philip George's Islamic Surfboards

Just spotted an article which sparked my interest on the BBC website. Philip George is an Australian artist who creates beautifully patterned surfboards with artwork and motifs from the Islamic world.

He has recently produced an exhibition, on display at Casula Powerhouse in Sydney until 18 January, which looks stunning. The exhibition, entitled Borderlands, is the culmination of 7 years of work carried out by Phillip George within Australia and throughout the Middle East.

In the words of the artist: "The emblematic ‘Inshalla’ (God Willing) surfboards symbolically provide buoyancy in the spaces between borders: the Australian beach and the edges of Western culture, and the Islamic world. Borderlands celebrates the metaphysical art of Arabic, Ottoman and Persian worlds and the transcendental nature of surfing, of which both traditions speak to the wonder and complexity of the universe."

Camper Van Man

Porth Oer, Lleyn peninsular

Following the adventures of Chris Haslam and his family as they travel around the UK over the course of six weeks to discover the best beaches this mini blog is well worth a read.

New album from Neil Halstead

Since listening to Neil Halstead last week I've been obsessed with a couple of songs he played at both gigs. Tracking them down has been virtually impossible but this must be because they are off his new solo album, due for release in the UK 29 July.

Living in Cornwall, with a penchant for surfing, bikes and the cultivation of facial hair, Neil is now signed to Brushfire Records and this is his second solo album. He's touring with Jack Johnson in the States during August but is currently lining up some UK and European gigs for September.

Thankfully Neil has just uploaded two songs off the new record, Oh Mightly Engine! onto his MySpace page and they are most definitely worth a listen.

The Happening in the UK

The Happening at Village Underground

This week I was lucky enough to check at The Happening in both London and Cornwall. On Tuesday night the show rolled into Village Underground, Shoreditch. The venue was great and it was a nice sunny evening which is always a bonus. The brick, arched interior provided an atmospheric backdrop and the rooftop terrace, scattered with reconditioned tube carriages, was set up by the Roxy crew with promotional posters and clothing.

Photography by Joe Curren

With art from established names such as Andy Davis, Thomas Campbell, Harry Daily and David Lloyd, photography from Joe Curren and Ryan Heywood, films from Woodshed productions and music from Mason Jennings, Neil Halstead, Zach Gill and G Love it really was a rare treat.

Zach Gill

However, it was a disappointment that there weren't more artists on hand to talk about their artwork and inject some real life into the fantastic array of pictures and films that the event its supposed to represent. In their absence, which was partly due to the artists having to fund their own travel, there was no information available on the art which left the focus firmly on the music and film. It was also a shame that so many people who should have known about the show well in advance saw it completely pass them by. Tickets were available on the door and there was plenty of room inside. This wasn't through a lack of interest, but largely because the marketing for this event was pretty low key and communications virtually non-existant.

The tube carriages

Fast forward three days to a windswept, sodden Gwithian and The Happening had arrived in Cornwall. The weather outside had no impact on the jubilant mood inside and the Sandsifter was packed the rafters with a tent out the front to host the musicians who included Mason Jennings, Neil Halstead, Matt Costa and G Love.

Matt Costa

The vibe was really friendly and although the art was a bit crammed in it felt very at home in its location. It was a bonus to meet Mike Fordham, man behind September and the Book of Surfing, and chat with Helen Gilchrest about her plans for Stranger magazine. There weren't any pieces from Wolfgang Bloch or Andrew Kidman but it was good to see local artists such as Ben Cooke represented.

Harry Daily

I had pretty high expectations for the Happening and although I certainly wasn't disappointed I would have liked to have seen more focus on the artwork. Cornwall hosts gigs all the time but the opportunity to see art from some of the most recognised surf artists of our time is much rarer. The concept is genius and lets hope they come back even bigger and better next year.